Patient's question:
When sleeping, one sweats a lot recentlyDoctor's answer:
Sweating of the body is a form of protection for the body, while the causes or factors of night sweats are numerous. In addition to being related to sleep environment air circulation and the breathability of bedding, some diseases such as tuberculosis, endocarditis, or malignant tumors like lymphoma may also cause night sweats. Additionally, endocrine disorders, such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and emotional disturbances or autonomic nervous system disorders, may also lead to excessive sweating at night.From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, night sweats may be caused by qi deficiency or yin deficiency. If night sweats are due to qi deficiency, it is often a result of poor vasodilation function, and Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang () can be used to regulate it. If night sweats are caused by insufficient heart blood, symptoms such as palpitations and poor sleep may occur, and blood nourishing and heart calming methods, such as Gui Pi Tang (), should be used. If night sweats are caused by yin deficiency, symptoms of dry heat may appear, and Liu Wei Di Huang Wan () can be used to improve the condition. For night sweats caused by yin deficiency with excess fire, symptoms like five-palm heat and restlessness may occur, and blood nourishing and fire reducing methods, such as Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang (), should be used. However, it is still recommended to consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner for differential diagnosis before taking medication to improve the condition.
Medical Advice: Night sweats are divided into two types: physiological and pathological. Modern medicine that children, with their metabolism and active nature, often sweat more than adults, which is a physiological phenomenon. The term "night sweats" () is derived from Jin Gui Yao Lue·Xue Bi Xue Lao Bing Xian Zheng Bing Zhi Zhi, also known as "bed sweat." It refers to sweating after falling asleep and stopping after waking up. It is often associated with deficiency conditions, particularly yin deficiency. For more details, see Xue Lao Dao Hua () and Yin Xue Dao Hua ().
In traditional Chinese medicine, it is said, "Yin deficiency leads to night sweats," and "Yang deficiency leads to spontaneous sweating." Sweating during sleep is called "night sweats." Night sweats are a syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine characterized by abnormal sweating after falling asleep and stopping after waking up. Jin Gui Yao Lue·Shui Qi Pian states, "After eating, sweating occurs, and there is also frequent night sweats—this is due to labor qi." Jing Yue Quan Shu·Sweat Syndrome points out, "Spontaneous sweating and night sweats each have yin and yang manifestations, and it cannot be said that spontaneous sweating always belongs to Yang deficiency or night sweats always belongs to Yin deficiency."
Additionally, Zhang Jing Yue in Jing Yue Quan Shu·Sweat Syndrome states, "Spontaneous sweating and night sweats each have yin and yang manifestations, and it cannot be said that spontaneous sweating always belongs to Yang deficiency or night sweats always belongs to Yin deficiency." Clinically, there are also cases of yin deficiency leading to yin damaging Yang (yin and Yang deficiency), blood stasis leading to water dampness stagnation (blood stasis and water dampness coexisting), etc. During differential diagnosis, a more thorough examination is required, so it is further divided into: Yin deficiency night sweats, Yang deficiency night sweats, Qi deficiency night sweats, blood stasis night sweats, blood deficiency night sweats, dampness obstruction night sweats, and external pathogen-induced night sweats. Over-the-counter Chinese patent medicines such as Er Zhi Wan, Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan, and Liu Wei Di Huang Wan can be selected.